Syllabus & Course Requirements
Country Reports
• Focus of the course will be on evaluating the
current business and economic environment at
the country level.
Why?
• First step of doing business in a new market is
understanding the macro level environment.
• Policies are analyzed at a comparative level.
Aggregate outcomes have a strong correlation
with individual outcomes.
P.E.S.T. Analysis
Strategic Planning
Link
Poor people in rich countries vs. rich
people in poor countries
High
Income
Countries
Austria
Canada
Germany
Sweden
United States
Average
Income of
Bottom 20%
of Pop.
$11,061
$7,972
$10,864
$13,451
$9,483
High
Middle
Income
Countries
Chile
Mexico
Costa Rica
Thailand
Lithuania
Tunisia
Average
Income of
Top 20%
of Pop.
$14,430
$14,397
$9,479
$4,839
$6,376
$4,927
Low
Middle
Income
Countries
Philippines
El Salvador
Egypt
Angola
Georgia
Guatemala
World Development Indicators & calculations
http://databank.worldbank.org/ddp/home.do?CNO=2&Step=12&id=4
Average
Income of
Top 10%
of Pop.
$3,822
$8,155
$3,939
$1,834
$2,198
$7,697
Focus: Quantitative and Concrete
Analysis
• Why? Qualitative Approaches valid but
• Quantitative methods more accessible and
make for more direct comparisons.
• Economics focuses on quantifying outcomes.
Focus: Primary Sources
• Read Original Scholarly Work
• Real World Data
• No Textbook, only Reading Packet
Outline
I.
A.
B.
C.
II.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Introduction
Course Details – Syllabus
Globalization – Trends in
globalization. Discussion of
comparative advantage and
alternative ideologies. Alternatives to
Globalization.
Country Analysis Framework
Introduction. Context. Orientation.
Comparison groups. Performance.
Context
Resources Natural Resources; Curse;
Human Capital; Demographics.
Institutions Foundations. Players of
the Game. Formal institutions. Social
Capital.
Foundations. Colonial History.
Political Environment. Social Capital
Culture/Mind Models
III.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Strategy
Market Orientation Varieties of
Capitalism
History of Development
Strategy Industrial policy
Alternative Models of
Development Happiness,
Human Development
Competitiveness.
Transition Strategies (if time)
IV. Risks
A. Political Risk Social Conflict;
Government Risk
B. Fiscal Risk Taxes; Budget
Sustainability; Default
C. Financial Crisis (if time)
Homework Assignments
• Form groups of 2-3 people.
• Three homework assignments: 25 points total
Paper
• Country Report: Write an analysis of a country
of your choice (not HK, USA, PRC or Korea).
• Use the tools learned in this course and real
world research.
• Maximum 6 pages including bibliography,
tables.
• Individual work.
• 25 points
Writing Assignment
• 4-6 Double Spaced report on country analysis
• Due: Friday, December 6th, 2014
• Cover background, business environment,
social welfare, development, risks of a single
country.
• Use data sources,
http://home.ust.hk/~davcook/Data%20Sources.
htm
Private analysts construct reports…www.eiu.com
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24406.0
Exam
• In class
– Midterm Exam: 15 points
– Final Exam: 35 points